South Dakota spared

“Not sure if "fuego" is the place for this... but I'm sure people could argue for and against.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9084706/

Panel rejects closing South Dakota air base
New Mexico base and other sites will be voted on next

Associated Press
Updated: 12:34 p.m. ET Aug. 26, 2005
WASHINGTON - The base closing commission voted Friday to keep open Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota — rejecting the Pentagon’s plan to close it — as the panel labored toward conclusion of a politically delicate task that has brought alternating sighs of relief and exasperation in communities across America.

The surprise decision was a setback for Pentagon leaders, a blessing for South Dakotans who feared losing some 4,000 jobs, and a victory for Sen. John Thune and the state’s other politicians, who lobbied vigorously to save the base. Thune, a freshman Republican, unseated then-Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle partly on the strength of his claim that he would be better positioned to help save the base.

“Oh my, God. It’s a fantastic day,” said Pennington County Commission member Mark Kirkeby, who had tears in his eyes as he watched the vote on television in Rapid City, S.D.”

“WhoooHooo! Free donuts at Wall Drug!”

“I'm not so sure politics played much part.
MS has very strong senators and a strong Rep and our Navy Base was axed.
It was pretty much known that this was gonna happen. The Navy mothballed the ships that were stationed there, a couple of years ago.

I think Money talked the loudest.
last edited: 8/26/05 1:50:11 PM”

“Even is base closure is not gonna turn MS blue though. Dakota.... maybe. Having said this I have no idea how political this all is.”

“The good news is-- you get to keep your air base.

The bad news is-- now you're still a missile target.”

“LOL @ Y2.
We can't wait to get our Island back and turn it into a moneymaker rather than a Navy Base doing nothing!
We already have done many studies and are chomping at the bit to get started!
Private Enterprise Baby!”

“

We plan to increase the Coast Guard presence quite a bit and as you can see, lots of undeveloped area. Can't really tell from the photo but it's directly South of Northrop Grumman Ship Systems Ingalls shipyard. The island has a very nice elevated causeway from the mainland out to it.”

“I have always HATED those submerged causeways!










LOLOLOLOLOL>>>>>hahhahahaa”